Bridge and traffic system



Oct. 22, 1968 MCLEAN BRIDGE AND TRAFFIC SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1966 FIGJ.

INVENTOR FIG .2 Edwin Lee McLaon ATTORNEYS Oct. 22, 1968 E, L MGLEAN 3,406,616

BRIDGE AND TRAFFIC SYSTEM Filed April 14, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6.

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INVENT OR BY M 6% ATTORNEY 5 Edwin Lee McLean- United States Patent 3,406,616 BRIDGE AND TRAFFIC SYSTEM Edwin Lee McLean, 1531 Osceola St., Jacksonville, Fla. 32204 Filed Apr. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 542,602 1 Claim. (Cl. 94-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A traflic system and bridge structure with an underpass span and an overpass span having entry and exit arrangements with the underpass having an array of traffic lanes including straight-away lanes and side lanes converging together into side-by-side lanes throughout the underpass span and dual lanes in spaced relation throughout the overpass span so that none of the lanes are in crossed relation.

This invention relates to trafiic systems and a novel waterway span and more particularly, to a traffic system including a bridge structure for optimum handling of heavy trafiic fiow in highly developed waterfront or riverside neighborhoods wherein traffic flows both parallel to and transversely of a' river, creek or similar body of water.

A primary problem in many areas is involved in the presence of a main, four-lane, two-way street crossing a river or the like; a plurality of transversely disposed side streets carrying heavy commercial trafiic and a plurality of additional streets, parallel to the main street which are more narrow and often carry one-way tratiic fiow in opposite directions on the opposite sides of the main fourlane through street.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and novel integrated trafiic system and bridge structure in trafiic patterns of the above-described type wherein the flow of trafiic across a river or the like is optimized, a novel bridge structure having optimally minimum multilane transverse span is provided; and wherein access to main through streets with multiple lanes, transversely disposed side streets and parallel one-way streets is optimized for maximum traffic handling into side-by-side vehicle lanes.

Basically, the present invention provides a trafiic system which includes a novel double-deck bridge structure providing bi-directional main street traflic fiow and side street access on the lower deck or span thereof and which provides first and second unidirectional traflic flows, respectively, on the upper span thereof from respective first and second one-way, secondary streets on opposite sides of and parallel with the said main street.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a combined schematic and aerial perspective view of the present invention spanned across a riverlike body of water with river side drive lanes leading into the novel bridge right of way;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan schematic of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the bridge structure;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the bridge structure and connecting lanes on each respective side of the river banks;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section view taken along section line 55 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a section view of each approach portion of the bridge taken on a section line 6-6, see FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings and first with particular reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is illustrated a body 3,406,616 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 ice of water A with a bridge B thereover having a straight right-of-way on a lower level of the bridge and an overpass portion C over the main right-of-way for laterally approaching trafiic.

The bridge comprises spaced arcuate truss members 10 and 12 to support the spaced arcuate overpass portions C and D and lower straight beam members 13 and 14 with a dividing strip 15 spanned over the water A. The beam members 13 and 14 may be base supports for the base beams 16 and 17 of each respective arcuate truss. These trusses may for example, each include approximately twelve vertical standards or upright supports generally numbered 18 and 19 for each respective side of the truss structures, The upright supports are of graduating heights to provide for the concave configuration of the curve of the arcuate top beams 20 and 21 of the respective truss members .10 and 12.

The lateral spacing of the truss members is reinforced by cross beams 22 and is sufiiciently predetermined to allow for unidirectional dual lanes of tratfic in opposite directions over the lower level main line of the bridge, that is, there may be provided one-way two lane traffic in each direction over the straight-away lower level lanes 13 and 14 while each of the arcuate upper level or overpass lanes, as shown in this embodiment, provide for oneway uni-directional dual lane traffic over the lower level main straight line of travel. Also, cross roads or secondary streets 23 and 24 lead into unidirectional lanes substantially parallel to each outer lane of the main lower level travel lanes from along each opposite bank of the body of water or river A. The crossroads 23 and 24 lead in from along the opposite banks 25 and 26 bordering the body of water A over which the bridge B spans. These side roads or river lanes 23 and 24 feed into the lower level right of way at curved entry and discharge points 27, 28, 29 and 30 respectively, see FIGURE 2 for example. When these side roads become adjacently parallel with the main lanes from the curved entry points to each side river road to the lower level right of way, they become the outside lane of each dual one-way straightaway lane 31 and 32, for their respective one-way direc tions; and thus provide a four lane lower level span of the bridge B with two additional one-way lanes for a six lane underpass arrangement, a, b, c, d, e and f.

If desired the upper level spans 33 and 34 of the overpasses C and D may be divided into one-way dual lanes, see FIGURE 6, and thereby provide for a multi-directional ten lane bridge. The lanes may be controlled to be selectively closed or open to trafiic as required depending upon how heavy the trafiic is for the area.

Also, when the river or water to be spanned is of any great extent, the bridge may be further supported by suitable support structures, such as caissons or the like, not shown.

Thus there is provided a novel bridge structure with multi-directional lanes at lower and upper levels, whereby trafiic is routed for optimum maximum handling in a safe and non-confusing manner.

Without further description it is believed that the advantages of the present invention over the prior art is apparent and while only one embodiment of the same is illustrated, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto as various changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of the parts illustrated, as will now likely appear to others and those skilled in the art. For a definition of the scope or limits of the invention, reference should be had to the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A bridge structure with lower and upper decks having lower level and upper level entry and discharge points, said decks each having oppositely directed multi-lane roadways, the roadways of the lower deck each comprising 3 4 m side-by-side 'lanes, at least two ofsaid lanes extending in References Cited 1 a straight line beyond the entry and discharge points and UNITED STATES PATENTS an outer lane which is a continuation of a drive lane along each river bank spanned by the bridge and turned to 509,885 12/1893 Faflst 94 1 converge into said outer lane, the roadways of the upper 5 2,160,315 5/1939 PPnce 94-1 level deck extending beyond the lower deck and being 2,736,334 2/1956 Rflleyvet a1 414424 XR outwardly turned at their ends to straddle the straight 3,301,146 1 f f 94 1 line trafiic lanes leading to and from said lower deck and extending to ground level entry and discharge points V F BE beyond said river bank drive lanes to provide over- 0 German printed application, 1,131,249, June 19, 1962. passes for oppositely traveling vehicles free and clear and in advance of said lower deck vehicles. JACOB NACKENOFF, ri y qm v. 

